Cub scouts celebrate come back from brink of closure

This time last year First Holtspur Scouts had dwindled to just four beavers and eight cubs.
They were meeting in a dilapidated building whose roof leaked and with no money for repairs leaders and parents thought there was no option but to close.
But now, thanks to the intervention of volunteers whose own children enjoyed scouting in the past, the roof has been fixed, the building in Cherry Tree Road decorated, a new kitchen installed and numbers are up to 42. A scout group for older children has opened.
Carole Ellis, district secretary of the Woodlands District Scout Council who is from Burnham and Faith Pople, assistant district commissioner for Beavers, from Iver, have travelled to Holtspur every week to turn the group around and recruited a group of parents to run it.
John O'Reilly, a finance director from Holtspur, who now chairs the group, said: "I didn't realise what was happening until at the AGM last summer we were told the group would have to close, and I felt I had to get involved. My sons love it, particularly the youngest. Getting a badge at beavers is the highlight of his week, he doesn't stop talking about it."
Fellow dad Derek House now helps run the cubs alongside leader Philip Glass while Lorraine Platten, grandmother to one of the cubs, now leads the beavers and her son Tim Platten the newly formed scouts.
The groups enjoy activities ranging from badge work to games to cooking to hiking, and and in the summer took part in a family camping event.
Mrs Ellis said: "We would have hated to see the group fold. There's a important place in the community for scouting, we believe it fulfils a very worthwhile service . The children learn to socialise outside the school environment; they leave the computer and the TV at home and become part of the community. It's a huge success story." New members, including girls, are welcome. For more information telephone Mrs Ellis on 01628 663810.

This article will be published with a photograph on Dec 31.